REVERSE LOGISTICS AND MANAGEMENT OF WASTE PRODUCTS: THE NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING FIRMS EXPERIENCE

Purpose. The paper explores reverse logistics activities such as product return, reuse of materials, and waste disposal impacts on the management of waste products in the Nigerian manufacturing companies. This is with a view to examining the awareness of reverse logistics to the management of waste products in Nigeria and determines the importance of reverse logistics activities and process to the management of waste products of Nigeria manufacturing firms. Methodology. Using a cross-sectional survey research design, 300 staff of selected manufacturing firms that deal with waste product were selected in Lagos and a well-structured and validated questionnaire was administered. From this, 250 copies were returned, while 246 were valid for the purpose of analysis. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance test of significance and Friedman rank test. Findings and Implication. The findings revealed that the respondents convinced that their reverse logistics activities arising from return of goods may be as very important to developing efficient and effective management of waste products of Nigeria manufacturing firms. The results also indicates that reverse logistics is highly significant in achieving the organizational goals (p < 0.05), company's future success (F = 8.18, p < 0.05), the functioning of a manufacturing company (p < 0.05) and strategically positioning the company. The study therefore recommends the need for a growing focus on various sections of reverse logistics processes in waste products’ management of manufacturing company in order to achieve organisational goal and enhances sustainable business performance